Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1887-03-29
THE DERBY HKARIrG.

Parties Heard Last Evening In OPP
position to the selling of the Road
A Further Hearing This Evening.
The members of the Derby road committee
looked rather tired as they took
their seats preparatory to another hearing at
7:30 o'clock last evening with Mayor S. A.
York presiding. The attendance included
Hon. Henry G. Lewis, General S. E. Merwin,
Harry Leigh, Alderman Martin and others
interested in the question before the meet
ing. Mr.. Joel A. Sperry, president of the
Derby and director on both the Naugatuck
and Consolidated roads, was the first witness
to be given hearing and said: As under
stand this matter the Housatonie Valley COM
pany are DESTROYS to construct this road and
turn it over to the New England road. be-
lieve that this Valley company is made up of
Wall street spectators who have gone into
the New England scheme for the purpose of
making money out of it. They would
push up the stock high as posi-
BILE and the city would de well to consider
this matter long time before they sell to
these parties, as what they have is first lien
and has to be cared for and looked after
even before the stock of the other stock
holders. The present road does the bust
ness of this city great deal of good, and if
it goes out of the hands of the citizens why
of course they lose it for ever, and much of
the business now sent to this city would be
sent by the Naugatuck road to Bridgeport
and from thence to New York. The sale, of
course, would take away lots of the Starin's
trade, which now comes of the Derby, and
this would of course raise freight rates
70 hi-,Iy
proposed extension to Sandy Hook will do the
city very much good, as there is very little
manufacturing in that ction of the valley,
and very few inhabitan ts. The idea that
extension will bring more freight to this city
is all bosh. While 1 am before you this
evening am only acting as 1 think it nv
duty in this matter, and think this Derby
is worth much more to the city than anyone
has yet offered to pay for it. myself have
no interest in it except to keep my connec-
ton with the steamboat line and our Manga
tuck Vsiley trade. Much of the freight
US a good deal to compete with
New York firms, and if the Starin rates
went up we could not afford to pay them,
and SO would give up that trade. I say
again have no interest in the sale except as
1 see the result at both ends of the line, and
como here in the position I hold
and as citizen and oppose the selling of the
road for the money offered. The road is in
first class condition and is worth 100 cents
on the dollar, and 1 fail to see how the city
can lose anything by not selling.
Mr.. Alling and Mr.. Barnes cross examined
Mr.. Sperry, but it only resulted in the lat
ter's saying he had only three shares in the
Derby road and didn't care for any more at
present.
DR.. Beckwith was next heard and said: I
appear as an independent citizen to oppose
the selling of the city's interest in this road.
The idea that some have that the city is in
the railroad business and ought not to be is a
mistaken one, and allowing that it is, the
city is not poor and can afford to hold the
Derby, and even if it does not pay five or six
per cent. in four or five years it will pay to
hold it. think this road is great help to
the business men of this city, and that they
have most of the valley trade in the retail
line and can afford to hold their share in the
road at all hazards.
Anthony Carroll appeared and opposed the
selling of the road on general principles, after
which the committee adjourned to meet at 8
o'clock this evening.